Ryan McBride/Staff Photographer Kevin Knight, co-owner of Knight's Garage holds his Order of Towman medal. They are honored for their dedication to the towing trade and the communities they serve.

BARRINGTON — The owners of Knight’s Towing recently won the 2012 Order of the Towman Award, which recognizes professionalism and dedication to the towing trade and the community.

Knight’s Towing, which was established 1907 by Fred Knight, marked its 50th year in Barrington recently. After starting out in Newmarket, the towing and general auto repair company had moved to Durham in 1924, before making its home in Barrington 50 years ago, said Fred Knight.

The Order of the Towman award, which is sponsored each year by American Towman magazine, was presented to Knight’s Towing owners Kevin Knight and his stepbrother Craig Jackson, during a ceremony in November in Baltimore, Md.

Knight’s Towing, which provides its towing services for police departments in Madbury, Barrington, and Strafford, was nominated for the nationwide award by Madbury Police Chief Joseph McGann. According to a letter by Steve Calitri, the editor in chief of American Towman magazine, McGann nominated Knight’s Towing for “showing extreme dedication to the towing trade and the community (they) serve.”

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Ryan McBride/Staff Photographer Co-Owner's of Knight's Garage, Kevin Knight, left and Craig Jackson stand outside of their shop Wednesday afternoon. They have since been awarded the Order of Towman medal honored for their dedication to the towing trade and the communities they serve.

“I didn’t realize we were getting nominated,” said Kevin Knight, who was surprised to get the honor.

According to Kevin Knight, Knight’s Towing provides towing services to the local police departments, such as in cases of major vehicle accidents, about four to five times a week, on average.

Kevin Knight said he and Jackson became owners of Knight’s Towing in 1996. Previously, Kevin Knight’s parents, Roberta and Fred Knight, owned the business.

“It’s really a family business and they’re always accommodating,” said Rochester resident Patricia Taylor, who met the owners of Knight’s Towing in the late 1970s and was recently getting her truck checked by workers at the business.

“They’re just always been right there, no matter what, honest and fair,” Taylor added.

In 2003, Fred Knight was also nominated for the national Towing Hall of Fame, located in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Fred Knight said that employees at the business always try to be fair and honest.

Roberta Knight said that upon learning that Knight’s Towing won the award, “We were very honored as parents.”